NEWS ‘Acute concern’ over migrant workers report By Samantha Mayling


Bosses at UKHospitality, UKinbound and Etoa, the European tourism association, have rung alarm bells following a major report calling for more “high-skilled workers” after Brexit.


The government’s Migration


Advisory Committee (MAC) said the cap on the number of high-skilled migrants should be scrapped. The MAC report argues that


higher skilled workers “tend to have higher earnings so make a more positive contribution to the public finances” than low-skilled staff. UKHospitality warned the plan


would “drive worker shortages and undermine a major part of the UK economy, which employs over three million individuals”. UKinbound chairman Mark


McVay said: “The UK tourism industry – which last year generated £24.5 billion from international


visitors – is heavily reliant on migrant workers which the MAC would deem ‘low skilled’. “The skills that our industry


needs most are great interpersonal, communication and language skills. “Since the referendum, many


of our members have struggled to recruit workers with the right skill set…and further restrictions could damage the industry.” UKHospitality chief executive Kate


Nicholls said: “The report states that there is no way to change the migration system without creating winners and, ultimately, losers. “There is acute concern that a new


system that does not take into account the fundamental challenges being faced by the sector will only ensure that businesses, their employers and customers are the losers. “The sector invests significantly in


its domestic workforce, employing over two million British workers. “The MAC report acknowledges


“Currently UK businesses can


This is not a Brexit reduction in red tape, but the opposite


the ongoing need for medium- and lower-skilled workers but this cannot be met domestically. “The hospitality sector workforce


needs supporting with additional non-UK nationals and many of them will be from the EU.” Tom Jenkins, Etoa chief executive,


said: “The MAC report makes some welcome noises. It is good to have recognised that EU migrants contribute significantly to the UK economy. It is also heartening to hear that their role is vital in many areas. “The problem with this report


is that the proposed solution – a widening of the Tier 2 system – is wholly impractical.


freely source from a talent pool of 500 million EU citizens. This will shrink by 90%. “In extending the Tier 2 system


to ‘embrace’ EU citizens, the MAC is advocating an expansion of a highly restrictive and bureaucratic procedure. “For those who use it, Tier 2 can


be a nightmare. It requires elaborate form filling, a minimum stipulated wage, extensive justifications for hiring the worker and a limbo period that can be weeks. “When we surveyed our


members, 85% who had experience of the Tier system described it as ‘difficult to impossible’. “This is not a Brexit reduction in


red tape, but the opposite. We will have nowhere near the number of


workers that we need.”. ukinbound.org ukhospitality.org.uk etoa.org


Discover England Fund awards £800,000


VisitEngland has named five projects that will receive funding from the £40 million Discover England Fund for tourism product development. The five bids together will be


given £800,000 from the fund, which is in its third year. The new projects include a


Royal Opera House reveals £50.7m facelift


The Royal Opera House has opened the doors to its “transformed” new home, following a three-year £50.7 million construction project. It offers extended foyers, a new


cafe, bar and restaurant, together with an extensive programme of events, activities and festivals. The venue also features the


redeveloped Linbury Theatre – described by the ROH as the West End’s “newest and most intimate


4 TravelGBI | October 2018


theatre” – that provides a stage for The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera. Visitors can explore displays of


theatrical memorabilia, costumes, playbills, models and posters. Alex Beard, Royal Opera House


chief executive, said: “The Royal Opera House is now open every day from 10am, and we want as many people as possible to visit one of the


world’s most beautiful theatres.” roh.org.uk


programme led by Southampton City Council that will target cruise passengers from Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordics and the US with bookable, commissionable on-shore leisure excursions.


Others include: ◗ Leeds-based Real Yorkshire


Tours has partnered with tourism marketing agency All About the Story to create Real Yorkshire Tours Destination Management Company, which will develop high- end, themed, experience-driven,


multi-day Yorkshire packages. ◗ Led by escorted tours


specialist Globus, Undiscovered England will develop off-the- beaten-track tours.


◗ Visit Cornwall has joined


forces with the Islands’ Partnership (Isles of Scilly), Visit Devon, Visit Somerset and Visit Dorset to create the South West


Peninsula Overseas Partnership. ◗ Led by the National Churches


Trust, the Faith Tourists to England project will develop a bookable product based on faith venues across England to appeal to the US market. These five projects join 51 other


successful bids that have received funding to create bookable products


for international visitors to England. visitbritain.org/discover- england-fund


travelgbi.com


©Luke Hayes


©VisitBritain/Ben Selway


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